Helen Achor Shoemaker
March 24, 1915- June 3, 2013
Helen Achor Shoemaker, 98, formerly of Anderson, passed away on June 3, 2013 at Retreat Hospital in Richmond, Virginia following an extended illness. She was born on March 24, 1915 in Tom Ball (near Houston), Texas to Dr. Earl L. and Blanche L. (Williams) Martin. Soon after birth she was diagnosed with infantile paralysis which left her partially crippled, but never slowed her down! She lived in Boston, Massachusetts, Everett, Massachusetts, and Island Falls, Maine where her father was sent by the Church of God to start new churches.
She moved to Anderson in 1927, first she lived in the Old Main building at (then) the fledgling Anderson College. In its earliest days during the depression the college could not afford to pay its teachers, but did provide housing for them in Old Main. The depression did not stop the early Anderson College leadership, staff, and students from solidly establishing Anderson College. For the same reason, she lived in "Old Main" after her marriage to Harold Achor.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Anderson College in 1960 and received an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Anderson University in 1978.
She married Harold Achor on October 11, 1935. He was Chief Justice of Indiana Supreme Court. He was a longtime member and President of Board of Directors at Park Place Church of God and Member of the Board of Directors at Anderson University. He passed away on February 5, 1967.
She married Robert Shoemaker on May 19, 1972. He worked many years for and retired as Director of Commercial Services at Warner Press. He was an accomplished artist and member of the Indiana Arts Commission. He passed away on June 6, 2002.
She lived in Anderson, IN from 1927-1988. In 1988, she moved with her husband, Robert Shoemaker, to Westminster Village Retirement Home in Muncie where they were active residents and made many new friends, while continuing their close ties to Anderson.
In 2008, she moved to Lorton, Virginia to live with her daughter, Lana Achor Rainville. In 2010, she moved to Caton Merchant House assisted living in Manassas, Virginia.
She was affiliated with Anderson University as a Resident Director from 1967-1969; Director of Alumni Services from 1969-1972; Special Advisor to the Center for Public Service 1973-1977; Special Assistant to the Dean of Academic Development 1977-1978; and Member of the Board of Trustees 1978-1985.
She was very involved with Civic Affairs on a National level including, Treasurer of the National Federation of Women's Republican Clubs 1945-1946; Member of Advisory Committee, Georgetown University Graduate School Academy in Public Service 1978-1983; U.S. Office of Education, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare: Advisory Committee on Financial Aid to Students 1976-1978; Membership Committee, Girl Scouts U.S.A. 1958-1966; included in "Who's Who" of the World and "Who's Who" of American Women.
She was active in the Civic Affairs on a State level including, Member of Indiana House of Representatives from Madison County 1968-1970; Legislative Counsel to Indiana Colleges & Universities 1970-1972 where she was instrumental in the development of state scholarships for students at Indiana private colleges and universities; Member of Advisory Committee on Sex Discrimination of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission 1978-1983; Secretary-Treasurer of the Indiana State Library and Historical Building Expansion Committee 1973-1978; Vice-President of Indiana Federation of Women's Republican Clubs 1945-1946.
She was very active with the local civic affairs including being Republican Precinct Vice-Chairman Madison County 1946-1968; Precinct Vice-Chairman in Anderson 1967-1968; She was on the Board of Directors for Madison County Urban League 1969-1976 and was a recipient of William B. Harper Award in 1975. She served on the Board of Directors Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc., in Madison County from 1980-1984; Anderson Symphony Orchestra Women's Guild in 1987; Member of Executive Committee of the Development Board at St. John's Medical Center from 1981-1982; She was active with Women's Alternatives, Inc., in Anderson where she received the Elizabeth Howard McMahan Award for her contributions in 1987. She was the Director of Madison County League of Women Voters from 1973-1976, 1978-1984, and 1987. She was the Founding Member and supporter of Leadership Academy of Madison County; Member of Ladies of Kiwanis, President of Anderson Chapter 1985-1986; President of Anderson Fine Arts Center Women's League 1987-1988 and Treasurer from 1984-1986; She was a member of many Anderson clubs: Ladies of Lions, Meg March, Art Club, Tourist Club, and Kiwanis Club.
She is survived by her four children, Dianne Achor (husband, Robert) Johnston of Sequim, WA, Lana Achor (husband, Eugene) Rainville of Bumpass, VA, Karen Shoemaker (husband, John) Kane of Indianapolis, and Stephen (wife, Vicki) Shoemaker of Goshen, IN; a sister, Betty (husband, Meredith) Church of Anderson; 11 grandchildren, Robert (wife, Jeanne) Spell and James (wife, Emily) Johnston of Savannah, GA; Patty Johnston (husband, Dan) McAvoy of Oakland, CA; Jeffrey (wife, Rebecca Martin) Johnston of Castle Valley, UT; Jason (wife, Helen) Dean of Lake Ridge, VA; Jeffrey Dean of Gaitherburg, MD; Teresa Jones of Scottsdale, AZ; Kimberly (husband, Matt) Huff of Boulder, CO; John (wife, Megan) Kane of Northville, MI; Brian (wife, Molly) Shoemaker of State College, PA; and David Shoemaker of Goshen, IN; 15 great-grandchildren, Megan Spell, Darcy Spell, Jeremy Johnston of Savannah, GA; Jason (wife, Darrah) Johnston of Moab, UT; Ashley Dean of San Diego, CA; Connor Dean of Prairie Grove, AK; Brandon Dean of San Diego, CA; Brody Dean of Lake Ridge, VA; Rachel Jones, Carrie Jones, Weston Jones of Scottsdale, AZ; Elise Huff of Boulder, CO; Mya Kane and Addelyn Kane of Northville, MI; and Autumn Shoemaker of St. College, PA; 2 great-great grandchildren, Kayli Johnston and Ashlynn Johnston of Moab, UT; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Blanche L. (Williams) Martin and Dr. Earl L. Martin, Anderson College Vice-President and First Dean of School of Theology, lifelong member and member of Church of God and Author of many major books on Theology; 2 brothers, Dr. David Martin and Daniel Martin.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 12:00 noon at Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service [229 S. Rangeline Road, Anderson, IN 46012] with Dr. Donald Johnson officiating. A private burial will take place in East Maplewood Cemetery.
The visitation will be on Saturday, June 15, 2013 from 10:30am- 12:00 noon at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Anderson University (Dr. Earl L. Martin Scholarship Fund) [1100 E. 5th Street, Anderson, IN 46012-3495, phone : 800-421-1025, online: https://co.clickandpledge.com/sp/d1/default.aspx?wid=23207].